Lessons in blue and red - E.J. Dionne

[BridgeTheGap]

Oped / E.J. Dionne
Lessons in blue and red
Courier Journal - Friday, October 19

WASHINGTON -- The narrow victory of Democrat Niki Tsongas in a special congressional election in Massachusetts offers warnings to both Republicans and Democrats for 2008.

Her victory speaks to the continuing unpopularity of President Bush and the war in Iraq. But her less than robust margin over Republican Jim Ogonowski -- she won 51 percent to his 45 percent, with minor party candidates taking the rest -- tells Democrats they cannot assume that Bush's low standing will turn the road to next year's elections into easy street. Individual candidates can still trump party affiliation, and sleeper issues can catch politicians by surprise.

http://tinyurl.com/32aaqu

[flpoljunkie]

1. Am afraid that it was immigrant bashing that got him so close, that and running against Washington-

aside from his personal affability.

[karynnj]

2. I think it will be an issue in 2008 here in NJ

I would not have thought so until the Democratic mayor of the largest town in my county spoke at a "Pro-America" rally. Morristown, where George Washington spent to winters during the Revolutionary War is a Democratic stronghold in the midst of a very affluent Republican county. Morristown has a large Hispanic population. One side of the town center, that was mostly poor and black in the 1970s, now has many stores and restaurants with Spanish signs.

The town has previously fought landlords breaking zoning law by allowing large numbers of adults to live in apartments and houses. There are also places where these immigrants - mainly men - congregate to get pick up jobs. From sympathetic past articles, these are the people who do landscaping and other jobs all over the county - and most work incredibly hard. My teen, in the past, volunteered occasionally as a "homework helper" at the local organization where kids can go after school. I assume that some of the kids are here illegally, but like most kids, they are extremely cute and sweet. These are people like any previous wave of immigrants - they want their kids to do well in school and have a decent life.

The county also has a significant population of Asian and Indian Americans, who are welcome in the community - so this antipathy towards the Hispanics is likely rooted in economics and in a fear that the town, as they assume it always was, is changing to one they don't recognize. In fact, nothing is ever static. Long before any Hispanics moved to Morristown, I remember walking about 2 blocks back from town to my apartment with an elderly neighbor, who wistfully described what had been in each store in her childhood, when Morristown's large Victorian homes were the summer homes of the wealthy, who couldn't afford Newport, RI. But, logical or not, there is fear and resentment towards change. This will be an issue in 2008.

Looking for a link, I found that the local paper keeps only a few months of articles - but found this excellent blog - which is better as it includes all the speeches. The mayor, who in the 1970s was young and progressive - I thought then, may not be far from where many blue collar Democrats are. (Read the blogger's comments and the Mayor's speech.)
http://symsess.blogspot.com/2007/08/my-thoughts-on-morristown-rally.html

I also found this blog, that describes the dangers of both extremes inflaming this issue. IMO, inflaming this issue helps the Republicans.

http://www.theactivist.org/blog/?p=119